Abstract
Evidence of bisphenols’ obesogenic effects on humans is mixed and inconsistent. We aimed to explore the presence of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF) and chlorinated BPA (ClBPA), collectively called the bisphenols, in different brain regions and their association with obesity using post-mortem hypothalamic and white matter brain material from twelve pairs of obese (body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m2) and normal-weight individuals (BMI <25 kg/m2). Mean ratios of hypothalamus:white matter for BPA, BPF and ClBPA were 1.5, 0.92, 0.95, respectively, suggesting no preferential accumulation of the bisphenols in the grey matter (hypothalamic) or white matter-enriched brain areas. We observed differences in hypothalamic concentrations among the bisphenols, with highest median level detected for ClBPA (median: 2.4 ng/g), followed by BPF (2.2 ng/g) and BPA (1.2 ng/g); similar ranking was observed for the white matter samples (median for: ClBPA-2.5 ng/g, BPF-2.3 ng/g, and BPA-1.0 ng/g). Furthermore, all bisphenol concentrations, except for white-matter BPF were associated with obesity (p < 0.05). This is the first study reporting the presence of bisphenols in two distinct regions of the human brain. Bisphenols accumulation in the white matter-enriched brain tissue could signify that they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Highlights
During the past four decades, a dramatic increase in the global prevalence of obesity has been documented, with estimates of 641 million obese individuals in 2014, worldwide, versus 105 million in 19751
To assess the potential accumulation of bisphenols in different regions of the human brain and their possible interference with central regulation of body weight, we examined the presence of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and chlorinated BPA derivatives (ClBPA) in hypothalamic and white matter-enriched areas and their association with obesity
We described for the first time the widespread presence of three bisphenols in areas of the human brain, such as the white matter-enriched area and the hypothalamus
Summary
During the past four decades, a dramatic increase in the global prevalence of obesity has been documented, with estimates of 641 million obese individuals in 2014, worldwide, versus 105 million in 19751. A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to certain environmental pollutants called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) may be another important contributor to the development of obesity[4]. Scarce data of passage across the blood-brain barrier exist for compounds, such as methylated mercury or lead ions[25] These charged ions have been shown to cross through the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier under certain circumstances[26]. Such evidence is lacking for bisphenols in human studies. To assess the potential accumulation of bisphenols in different regions of the human brain and their possible interference with central regulation of body weight, we examined the presence of BPA, BPS and ClBPA in hypothalamic and white matter-enriched areas and their association with obesity
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